The Impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The school environment, which includes the classrooms, libraries, technical workshops, laboratories, teachers’ quality, school management, teaching methods, peers, etc are variables that affect students’ academic achievement (Ajayi, 2001 and Oluchukwu, 2000). Hence, the school environment remains an important area that should be studied and well-managed to enhance students’ academic performance. The issue of poor academic performance of students in Nigeria has been of much concern to the government, parents, teachers, and even students themselves. The quality of education does not only depend on the teachers as reflected in their professional practices but also in the effective coordination of the school environment (Ajao 2001).
School environment which includes instructional spaces planning, administrative places planning, circulation spaces planning, spaces for conveniences planning, and accessories planning, the teachers, as well as the students themselves, are essential in the teaching-learning process. The extent to which students acquire skills could be enhanced and it partly depends on their location within the school premises, the structure of their classroom, availability of instructional facilities, and accessories. It is believed that a well-planned school will gear up expected outcomes of education that will facilitate good social, political, and economic componential religious and emancipation, effective teaching and learning process, and academic performance of the students.
Relating this study to international occurrences are the assertions of Williams, Persuade, and Turner (2008), quoting Marsden (2005), which reported that safe and orderly classroom environment (an aspect of instructional space), School facilities (accessories) were significantly related to student’s academic performance in schools. The three researchers, also quoted Glassman (1994), asserting that a comfortable and caring environment among other treatments helped to contribute to students` academic performance.
The physical characteristics of the school have a variety of effects on teachers, students, and the learning process, poor lighting, noise, high levels of carbon dioxide in classrooms, and inconsistent temperatures make teaching and learning difficult. Poor maintenance and ineffective ventilation systems lead to poor health among students as well as teachers, which leads to poor performance and higher absentee rates (Frazier, 2002 Lyons, 2001; and Ostendorf, 2001).
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced uncertainty into major aspects of national and global society, including for schools. For example, there is uncertainty about how school closures last spring impacted student achievement, as well as how the rapid conversion of most instruction to an online platform this academic year will continue to affect achievement without data on how the virus impacts student learning, making informed decisions about whether and when to return to in-person instruction remains difficult.
Even now, education leaders must grapple with seemingly impossible choices that balance health risks associated with in-person learning against the educational needs of children, which may be better served when kids are in their physical schools, amidst all this uncertainty, there is growing consensus that school closures in spring 2020 likely had negative effects on student learning.
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
These factors can adversely affect student behavior and lead to higher levels of frustration among teachers, and poor learning attitudes among students. Beyond the direct effects that poor facilities have on students’ ability to learn, the combination of poor facilities, which create an uncomfortable and uninviting workplace for teachers, combined with frustrating behavior by students including poor concentration and hyperactivity, lethargy, or apathy, creates a stressful set of working conditions for teachers. Because stress and job dissatisfaction are common pre-cursors to lowered teacher enthusiasm, it is possible that the aforementioned characteristics of school facilities have an effect upon the academic performance of students.
Previous studies have investigated the relationship of poor school environment including problems with student-teacher ratio, school location, school population, classroom ventilation, poor lighting in classrooms, and inconsistent temperatures in the classroom with student health problems, student behavior, and student achievement (Crandell & Smaldino, 2000; Davis, 2001; Johnson, 2001; Lyons, 2001; Moore, 2002; Stricherz, 2000; Tanner, 2000 Miller, Davis, Tomporowski, & Naglieri (2008) asserted that school environment is the sum of both human and materials resources that the learners interact with. These include students, teachers, instructors, workshop attendants, administrators and all facilities available in the school setting which may influence learning and academic performance.
In the same vein, Tope (2012) asserted that the school environment is an essential aspect of that unless schools are well suited, buildings adequately constructed and equipment adequately utilized and maintained much teaching and learning may not take place. Okwelle (2016) refers to the environment as the facilities available for instruction and it possesses a strong influence in the teaching-learning process.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The problem that necessitated this study is the continuous decline in students’ academic performance in schools. The issue of poor academic performance of students in secondary school has generated concern among teachers, parents, researchers and the government at large. Observations and reports from Examination Bodies revealed that a high proportion of secondary school students continue to perform poorly in many school subjects including Economics. In fact the declining state of students’ academic performance in schools is assuming a higher dimension and has become increasingly worrisome.
Worried by the downward trend in the level of students’ academic performance in secondary schools, the government and other stakeholders have made a concerted effort to remedy the situation, yet no significant improvement has been recorded. However, not much effort has been made to the effect of the school environment on students’ academic performance. It is against this background, therefore, that this study “School Environment and Students’ Academic Performance in Economics in Etinan Local Government Area” becomes imperative.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The main objective of this research work is to examine the influence of the school environment on student’s academic performance in Economics. Especially, this study seeks to:
- Examine the influence of school facilities on the academic performance of students in economics in the secondary school
- Examine the influence of class size and academic performance of students in economics in secondary school
- Investigate the extent to which school location affects the academic performance of students in secondary schools.
1.4 Research Questions
- To what extent does a school facility influence students’ performance in Economics in secondary school?
- What influence does class size has on the academic performance of students in secondary school?
- To what extent does school location have on the academic performance in Economics of secondary school students?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
- There is no significant influence of school facilities on the academic performance of students
- There is no significant influence of class size on the academic performance of students
- There is no significant influence of school location on the academic performance of students
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study will provide the student with:
- The information for parents, educators, and school administrators to reflect upon various factors that help students in achieving their academic goals.
- Also helps the student to investigate the possibility of introducing those factors to their school, which may consequently lead to enhancing students’ educational outcomes in school.
- This study provides a valuable reference for other schools to reflect upon the school environment as it affects the academic performance of student in secondary school.
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
The impact of School Environment on Students Academic Performance in Economics
